PAT LAM has urged shell-shocked Wales to emulate Samoa and Australia when they take on New Zealand in what Welsh supporters are already dubbing mission impossible.

He was technical advisor to the Samoa team which beat incompetent Wales 26-19 at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night.

It was the former New Zealand and Samoa No 8 great’s latest victory over Wales with the Pacific islanders – he was a player in 1991, 1994 and 1999.

“Four from four, no losses, I’m a happy man. This is a really special result,” declared Lam.

New Zealand stretched their unbeaten run to 19 matches and 15 months by beating a passionate Italy in Rome yesterday and are odds-on with bookmakers to dispose of misfiring Six Nations champions Wales in Cardiff next Saturday.

“No one will give Wales a chance and rightly so because New Zealand are the number one side in the world, and Wales have lost the last couple,” said Lam.

“That’s the challenge of rugby. You’re up against it, what are you going to do?

“You never write off any team. For Wales, they have to do what Samoa did to them. In some ways, it’s better for Wales as there won’t be any pressure on them.

“You never say no hope. Australia supposedly had no hope against New Zealand last month in Brisbane. Their backs were against the wall and they were right up against it but managed to get a draw.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge for Wales but they have to believe in themselves – they are the Six Nations champions and played well in Australia during their end of season tour.

“In rugby you take away the jerseys and who they are, it’s 15 guys and a game of rugby. All you need is belief. All you have got to do is have belief in what you are doing. The principles of rugby are exactly the same, it doesn’t matter whether it is amateur or professional – win the ball, go forward, continuity, support and score tries.”

Lam (pictured) revealed the blueprint Samoa had drawn up to nullify and beat a Wales team already reeling from a 26-12 mauling to Argentina last weekend.

“We had a clear structure and game-plan. We attacked the Welsh scrum massively and when we saw it reeling we sent the call on to keep the ball in it,” he beamed.

“Once Wales dropped one we knew, if we were patient and kept working, we would come through towards the end.

“Our scrum was superb and our lineout was fantastic and so was our mauling, which meant we had ball.

“We’ve got the biggest pack we have ever had in Samoa and our go-forward was terrific. You can’t play the game well if you don’t have the ball.”

Lam reckons Samoa’s latest triumph over Wales was better than the shock success 21 years ago in the Welsh capital that signalled their arrival on the international stage.

“It’s difficult to compare them but for Samoa this is probably bigger,” he said. “In the past it was a shock and we took Wales by surprise. But Wales lost last week, they had no reason not to be up for it and it was a really important game for them.

“We had a lot of players missing, those here all play for different clubs and to see them come out and get the result is pretty special.

“Samoa is not a team for fame and fortune. A lot of the boys lose money when they come and play for us. But it’s about being the people’s team.

“We showed the boys a video of all the people back in Samoa, all the little kids, and it was quite emotional.

“These guys put their bodies on the line for that. Six Nations champions, on their home ground, on the back of them losing – the boys brought the heart to implement it.

“It was a privilege to be back. I talked to the boys about 1991. Back then it was about opening the international gate to Samoa.

“We talked about the next generation and having been in that team and to see that actually happen is great. Presenting the jerseys was really emotional.

“There were a lot of things this week that mirrored 1991. There was a lot of tension, training was physical and that’s exactly what happened all those years ago.

“In 1991 we created history and opened the gate, now we want to get in the top eight in the world.

“Nobody has talked about us, it’s all been who might drop out of the IRB rankings. For us this is fantastic.

“I can’t wait to see the rankings on Monday morning. If we are in the top eight that would be monumental.

“I think we’re there. Argentina gained nearly two points by beating Wales and were only 0.5 behind Scotland and overtake them unless they (Scots) beat the Springboks. Ireland aren’t playing a Test so we pass them and Scotland. It’s all for us.”